The Red School

[MotherWitch]

The Red School provides courses and stuff all about menstruation from a female empowerment point of view. Think spiritual, feminine power, book published by Hay House type of thing.

They also seem to think penises have a place in discussions of periods, because inclusivity. Or something. I honestly can't keep up anymore.

[gardenbird48]

I remain totally mystified with these situations.
It is a major health concern if anyone starts bleeding spontaneously unless they are a female of menstruating age.

[HermitsLife]

This seems a bad business model to me

If you're bleeding from your penis be it natural or constructed you need medical attention not a pad and paracetamol

[aliasundercover]

I've just checked bleeding thunders website

www.bleedingthunder.com/about

It surely has to be a joke

[Cwenthryth]

Oh it’s just more attempts to redefine words to prop up belief in gender identity. It’s a shame because I expect they’re largely on the same page as gender critical feminism about what we would want from menstruation support/awareness campaigns and sanpro marketing etc, just without the requirement to adhere to a particular belief.

I agree that bleeding (assuming they mean menstruating!) doesn’t “make you a woman”. But only women (adult human females) menstruate, no matter their beliefs or identity. There is no getting away from that, however you try to redefine the words involved.

The drawing of a be-penised figure on a sanitary towel sporting a semi - Is It Art? Probably. It’s definitely disturbing given the period fetishism openly exhibited by some transwomen on social media, given the depiction of a semi-erect penis, and gives some cause for concern about the associations here.

“Cis-centrism is not empowering” well, I really am not aware that very many people identify as cis, to be honest, and in my experience those that do identify as cis tend to be at pains to centre trans and non-binary people in many things (usually a major part of why they identify as cis) so I have to say that I am unconvinced that “cis-centrism” is a widespread problem. Whether it is empowering or not is probably best interpreted by the individual engaging in the activity?

“Non-cisgender menstruators” well that’s most of us, surely. Yay inclusion.

I agree there is absolutely a need and place for dedicated support for any and all females experiencing gender dysphoria around menstruation as a specific issue - understandably your sex-differentiated biological processes could be quite a traumatic experience for individuals who suffer distress focused on their sex. And even for those transmen and non-binary females who are accepting of the reality of their sex, I can understand a space to whinge about provision of hygiene bins in the places where you need them to be, pinkification/feminine marketing of sanpro etc (I’d wholeheartedly support a campaign to de-genderize packaging and marketing around sanpro, the need for this product is based on a individuals sex, not gender).

[Whatwouldscullydo]

Inclusive should not mean irresponsible.

Males bleeding from their penis or neo vagina need a dr. Females not bleeding by the time they get to 16 also need to see a dr. Trans people deserve accurate medical information about their own bodies as much as everyone else does. It's not kind. Not when it can hurt someone.

[merrymouse]

It is a major health concern if anyone starts bleeding spontaneously unless they are a female of menstruating age.

The problem is that they confuse sex with value and human rights with affirmation.

Menstruating is a biological process that only happens to women, therefore women need access to specific services and rights that men don't. Menstruation is significant at a structural level because it can e.g. impact on whether women can access education, therefore it is important that we talk about 'women', not just menstruators.

The irony is that this can all be related to the Margaret Atwood quote "“Men are afraid women will laugh at them. Women are afraid men will kill them.” Men are concerned about ego, women are concerned about basic needs. However, given that even Margaret Atwood seems unable to comprehend that sex has consequences, shrug.

[merrymouse]

I’d wholeheartedly support a campaign to de-genderize packaging and marketing around sanpro, the need for this product is based on a individuals sex, not gender

Very much agree.

[Whatwouldscullydo]

Menstruation is significant at a structural level because it can e.g. impact on whether women can access education, therefore it is important that we talk about 'women', not just menstruators

One wonders if refusing to acknowledge who menstruation affects is actually contributing to the very shame that those choosing not to use the word woman are claiming its solving.

We have so many more options now that those who are fortunate to be in a position where they or their families can afford it or are open to try it, means that actually the whole thing could be easier and less traumatic ( and yes I know that it won't solve every problem for everyone) but not one of the multiple companies and forums seems to do anything to let them know who the products are even for.

That's gotta be contributing to the problems as opposed to remotely solving them.

I'm.not sure how it's meant to be helpful. Why encourage such a disconnect. Its so counterproductive. Gone are the days of belts and embarrassed pharmacists, we have so many choices some if which allowing you to basically have it custom made for your body, and yet it's a waste when their very sex class is a word that must not be spoken let alone anything their body does. How are girls supposed to feel they can ask any thing.

And it also enables people to hide the link between how girls are affected by the lack.of single sex provision and the space to deal with it away from males.

[hoodathunkit]

I took a look at the OP when it was first posted but, due to time limitations, have not been able to post before

Obviously the nature of the "Red School" is relevant to my interests

I include below some links for further research - we are deep in sex cult land here

Firstly Red School - some links via the WayBack Machine

Hi! We’re Alexandra and Sjanie,
co-founders of Red School

We’ve got a radical new approach to women’s leadership, creativity and spiritual life based on a uniquely feminine way – the menstrual cycle. Learn all about it in our book Wild Power: discover the magic of your menstrual cycle and awaken the feminine path to power.(Hay House)

<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210220151927/redschool.net/" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20210220151927/redschool.net/

<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20201128152221/redschool.net/about/our-team/" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20201128152221/redschool.net/about/our-team/

<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20201031050216/redschool.net/about/mentors/" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20201031050216/redschool.net/about/mentors/

<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20201128151914/redschool.net/menstrual-medicine-circle/" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20201128151914/redschool.net/menstrual-medicine-circle/

<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20201031044126/redschool.net/the-power-of-menopause-in-relationships-with-the-school-of-movement-medicine/" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20201031044126/redschool.net/the-power-of-menopause-in-relationships-with-the-school-of-movement-medicine/

<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150306075624/www.redschool.net/Resources" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20150306075624/www.redschool.net/Resources

Menstruality Leadership Programme, UK 2021
<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20201128151549/redschool.net/event/menstruality-leadership-programme-uk-2021/" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20201128151549/redschool.net/event/menstruality-leadership-programme-uk-2021/

One of the people involved in the Red Schhol pops up on the website of a neo-tantric person known to me

Abi (she/her) first embarked on Jewels’ work 9 years ago and since then has been on a deep and transformational journey both personally as a woman and with her partner. Completing every training offered and then spending many years in apprenticeship. She now co-facilitates the women’s program and has a particular passion for sexuality work, specifically around diversity, consent and breaking taboo.

She is also embedded in the work of Red School’s Leadership Programme, and is a Menstrual Medicine Circle facilitator. Abi is a high Priestess. Women feel safe with her due to her playful and warm hearted approach to holding space. She is sassy and powerful and a very valued part of the team.

<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210131025936/jewelswingfield.com/jewels/the-team/" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20210131025936/jewelswingfield.com/jewels/the-team/

more to follow

[hoodathunkit]

Red School is closely linked to an organisation of concern called Youth Passageways

some links for the curious below

www.facebook.com/youthpassagewayscommunity/

<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200831144528/youthpassageways.org/" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20200831144528/youthpassageways.org/

www.facebook.com/pg/youthpassagewayscommunity/events/

<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200928133335/youthpassageways.org/about-us/staff-leadership-circle/" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20200928133335/youthpassageways.org/about-us/staff-leadership-circle/

<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627041608/youthpassageways.org/about-us/staff-leadership-circle/" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20150627041608/youthpassageways.org/about-us/staff-leadership-circle/

Youth Passageways’ “Partnership Circle” includes may organisations of concern to me, many linked to; the Men’s Rights movement (I have no problem with the concept of men’s rights - I just find that many MRAs are deeply misogynist), sex cults, fake native American tribes and fake indigenous ceremonies (these racist, cultural appropriators are some of the worst when it comes to abusive sex cults IME) and also the infiltration and infection of certain types of legitimate movements by sex cults, these include but are not limited to; wilderness training, troubled teens outward bound retreats, primitive skills training, sustainable development, environmental campaign groups, teen / youth leadership training, girls empowerment training, pushed for time but I could go on.

I would encourage readers to educate themselves about these movements and how they have been infiltrated and perverted via new age cults including abusive sex cults

[hoodathunkit]

Youth Passageways’ “Partnership Circle” includes many organisations of concern to me, many linked to; the Men’s Rights movement (I have no problem with the concept of men’s rights - I just find that many MRAs are deeply misogynist), sex cults, fake native American tribes and fake indigenous ceremonies (these racist, cultural appropriators are some of the worst when it comes to abusive sex cults IME) and also the infiltration and infection of certain types of legitimate movements by sex cults, these include but are not limited to; wilderness training, troubled teens outward bound retreats, primitive skills training, sustainable development, environmental campaign groups, teen / youth leadership training, girls empowerment training.

Youth Passageways boasts of a “partnership circle” of allied organisations. This list is absolutely fascinating and can be used by readers as a springboard for further research. I am not familiar with all the organisations listed but I am familiar with many of them and those I am familiar with are of extreme concern to me.

Please be aware that some of the organisations listed might be good, genuine organisations mixed in with the others. Given their links to Youth Passageways I would advise due diligence to anyone thinking of getting involved with any of these organisations

Please find the list of organisations in the Partnership Circle below - I will explore a sample of listed organisations in subsequent posts - I am insanely busy and over-committed, I am sharing to encourage readers to familiarise themselves with the nature of these kinds of organisations via personal research, which should be conducted with great care.

From the Youth Passageways website:



OUR PARTNERSHIP CIRCLE
Our Partners, and the experiences they offer, make up the bulk of what Youth Passageways is. They hail from a widely diverse body of practitioners and communities spanning cultural, national, and generational borders. It is one of our primary missions to act as champions for our partners as they are the lifeblood of our organization.
Click on the Partner title below to find out more about each Partner and aid in the bridging of those borders. Learn more about How We Govern HERE.
Programs, Organizations & Communities
Men’s Leadership Alliance
School of Lost Borders
Pacific Quest
LEAPNOW: Transforming Education
Men’s Eagle Council
The Adolescent Mind
Rite of Passage Journeys
Make Trybe: School of Transformative Design
Vermont Wilderness Rites
Weaving Earth
Your Voice, Your Gift, Your Power
The Ever Forward Club
Pathways Foundation LTD
Regenco, LandTime
National Rites of Passage Institute
The Rite Journey: School Based Rites of Passage
Next Culture Research & Training Center
PassageWorks Institute
Rites of Passage: A Creative Journey into Embodied Leadership
Alchemy, Inc.
The Ojai Foundation
Stepping Stones Project
Passage to Manhood
Spreading Seeds: Mind-Body-Spirit
WSU 4-H Rite of Passage
Teen Journey
Gillis
Youth Resiliency Institute
Threshold Journeys
The Hero Project
Feet of the Earth Programs
Inner Guide Expeditions
Golden Bridge International: Surfing the Creative
Street Poets
Rites of Passage
Coyote Trails School of Nature
Sacred Future
Girls Action Foundation
YIP [Youth International Initiative Program]
Western Gate: Roots and Wings Foundation
Tia Chuchas Young Warriors
Bright and Beautiful Girls Project
Maiden Star*
Challenge Day
Retribe
School of All Relations
Boys to Men Mentoring Network
The ManKind Project
The Journey Network
The Westcountry School of Myth and Story
Generation Waking Up
Wilderness Reflections
The Eschwege Institute
DeAnn L’am: Red Tents in Every Neighborhood
Be the Change
Buffalo Visions Healing Center
The Center for the Advancement of Youth, Family & Community
Challenge Day
Australian Rites of Passage Institute
Heart Quest Rites of Passage
Healing Power Mission
Hualalai Ohana Foundation
Kalliopeia Foundation
Lifeplan Institute
Maui Youth in Action
Natural Death Center
Olohana Foundation
Orike Theater
Shade Tree Multicultural Foundation
Urban Youth Ambassadors
Warrior Films
Wilderness Guides Council
Young Men’s Ultimate Weekend
Zen Four
Divine Force Media
Space of Possibilities
R.A.W. Talking Circles
Center for Youth and Community, Inc
The School of Human Nature
Man Up Global
Safeteen
LYRIC
Wolf Connection
Conscious Youth Coaching
Teen Talking Circles
Oaks Counsel
Courageous Hearts Youth Center, Inc.

Individual Practitioners
Idil Levitas
Dr Arne Rubenstein
Matthew Blank
<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150829132052/youthpassageways.org/about-us/our-partnership-circle/" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20150829132052/youthpassageways.org/about-us/our-partnership-circle/

[hoodathunkit]

From the above list of partner organisations

The School of Lost Borders founded by Meredith Little

The School of Lost Borders
www.facebook.com/lostborders/

<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210221123452/jewelswingfield.com/event/guest-teachers-school-of-lost-borders/" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20210221123452/jewelswingfield.com/event/guest-teachers-school-of-lost-borders/

also at Confer (organisation that promotes the satanic panic / false memory therapies)
archive.is/IS5LJ
<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210221123545/www.confer.uk.com/biogs/biog_little.html" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20210221123545/www.confer.uk.com/biogs/biog_little.html

Meredith Little Interview | Warrior Films | Rites of Passage

@2.25 “teachers came to us, Heyemoyosts Storm"

Significant teachers appeared including Heyemoyosts Storm, Sun Bear
www.schooloflostborders.org/content/history-school" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20201204085300/www.schooloflostborders.org/content/history-school

Heyemoyosts Storm (real name Charles Storm), Sun Bear (deceased) are / were notorious ceremony sellers who used fake / perverted sacred ceremonies to sexually abuse followers. Charles storm is currently wanted by law enforcement in the US for multiple rapes including of at least one child.

Re: Charles Storm/Wolf Storm/H Storm Hiding Out From Child Molesting Charges
www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=899.msg35376#msg35376
also see
When Will the Me Too Movement Take on the New Age?
www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=5164.msg44873#msg44873

[hoodathunkit]

more to follow later today or tomorrow - sorry, running late and over-committed

[hoodathunkit]

Bleeding Thunder is a project closely allied to the Red School and Youth Passageways

text and links of interest

BLEEDING THUNDER | INAUGURAL ISSUE • WINTER 2020
A Zine Exploring Genderqueer Menstruation
This project has been years in the making. Years of feeling excluded from women’s circles. Years of clawing our way to cisgender spaces and finding they are rarely designed with us in mind. Us, the genderqueer, the tomboy turned dyke turned demi-boy, the gender fucked, the too-girl-to-be-boy, too-boy-to-be-girl, the androgynes, enbies, and transsexuals; the can’t-quite-fit-in-any-box, gender-blessed and liminal ones. Some of us have bled for a long time. Some of us used to bleed and stopped. Some re-started. Some of us feel that hormonal shift of menstruation without ever bleeding at all. And all of us have a story.
After years of frustration, years of trying to passionately & angrily educate without seeming too passionate or angry, years of suggesting best practices for communities that were neither going to pay us or accommodate us, years of breaking our hearts in spaces that both nourished and wounded us, we realized the only people who could make a space designed for us was — well, us. So here it is.
<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200928122651/youthpassageways.org/bleedingthunder/" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20200928122651/youthpassageways.org/bleedingthunder/


Bleeding Thunder fb definitely worthy of further research
www.facebook.com/bleedingthunderzine/


Bleeding Thunder website - text as follows

This is a project that is borne out of the refusal to be in isolation anymore. It is too often that queer people menstruate in secret because not only are we navigating patriarchal shame and social conditioning about menstruation, we are also navigating cis-heteronormativity and how it equates menstruation to womanhood.⁣

Menstruation does not equal womanhood, and we are here to continue to push back on this dominant colonial script that says that it does, with love, compassion, and fierceness. ⁣

This project has been years in the making. Years of feeling excluded from women’s circles. Years of clawing our way to cisgender spaces and finding they are rarely designed with us in mind. Us, the genderqueer, the tomboy turned dyke turned demi-boy, the gender fucked, the too-girl-to-be-boy, too-boy-to-be-girl, the androgynes, enbies, and transsexuals; the can’t-quite-fit-in-any-box, gender-blessed and liminal ones. Some of us have bled for a long time. Some of us used to bleed and stopped. Some re-started. Some of us feel that hormonal shift of menstruation without ever bleeding at all. And all of us have a story.⁣
⁣
After years of frustration, years of trying to passionately & angrily educate without seeming too passionate or angry, years of suggesting best practices for communities that were neither going to pay us or accommodate us, years of breaking our hearts in spaces that both nourished and wounded us, we realized the only people who could make a space designed for us was — well, us. So here it is.⁣

As a community that holds space for queer folks, we feel intersectionality is critical, and zine submissions from queer + trans people who are also people of color, disabled, and/or from poor/working class backgrounds, are prioritized. We value accountability, embodiment, humility, relationship, creative expression, and authentic collaboration. We are committed to trauma healing as a foundation for justice work, and we see creativity as a spiritual healing force. ⁣

fēnix grace
co-steward fēnix | FAE
fēnix grace is a creative vision guide and weaver of communication & community for bleeding thunder. fēnix is an ordained minister, psychic, healer, interspecies communicator, artist, and ocean. fēnix's life is currently about nurturing an arc of self-gentleness and love, empowered interdimensional relationships, and learning from faer ancestors about how to be of the earth again. you can engage with fēnix on social media.


Silen Charlie Wellington
co-steward THEY | THEM
Silen Charlie Wellington is an alchemical shepherd and bleeding thunder’s Daddy of Accounts. They are a sculptor of sound, artist of people, genderqueer shapeshifter, mercurial name collector, witch, storyteller and lover, among other things. You can check out their music, performance art, and poetic weavings on their website. When not stewarding zines & community spaces or writing music, they enjoy unhinged-unfettered-unapologetic dance, cultivating anticipatory delight, dining with the fae, and falling in love.

Dane Zahorsky
creative accompliceHE | HIM
Dane Zahorsky is a heart-deep believer in and a creative accomplice to the magical storm of love and care-centered reckoning that is bleeding thunder. In his 'free' time, he seeks to be of service to living an examined life, rooted in a meeting of what is ancient with what is emergent, with all the fallibility and conflicting emotionality it entails. He believes in the power of art and community ritual as essentially transformative and generally, in the creative animate force in all things. Engage him through that work at Make Trybe or Youth Passageways.
​
archive.is/UDUC2
also see about us (could not C&P text)
archive.is/o94Cf

also see
<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210223130948/www.blurb.co.uk/b/9951614-bleeding-thunder-print-digital-pdf-edition" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20210223130948/www.blurb.co.uk/b/9951614-bleeding-thunder-print-digital-pdf-edition

[hoodathunkit]

Just quickly I would like to share some thoughts

My concerns about these organisations, and I will post more info soon, are very similar to my concerns about menstruation themed Wisdom Circles, Women's Circles, Sharing Circles, Red Tent circles and the like that are targeted at women.

While many vulnerable people who are well meaning and kind do get involved with these groups there are always predatory scammers and perverts involved at senior levels.

My concern is to protect all vulnerable people regardless of sex or gender identity from getting abused financially, emotionally and sexually.

I discovered some wonderful satirical videos exposing this kind of thing, they deserve a wider audience so please feel free to share
How to do political art? 4 easy steps by Aya Huasca

How the heal the world + introducing you to the S.H.I.T. (Sexual Healing International Temple) tribe.
Aya Huasca wants to take you on a journey of earth healing. Aya Huasca is not just an award winning theatre director, a Shaman and a drug addict, no she is also a healer. A world healer. She is part of the S.H.I.T. tribe, the sexual healing international temple tribe. In this Video you can learn more about the S.H.I.T. tribe. If u sign in this weak to one of the S.H.I.T. workshops you will get 20% discount. Each workshop goes on for one weekend and takes place at super-duper-hipster places like Ubub (Bali), Sinai desert (Egypt), Tulum (Mexico), Brandenburg (Berlin) the list ist long. Shrooms and Weed are in this small budget of 3000 Euros/weekend included. As well as all the self healing workshops and the vegan lentil soup every morning and afternoon. Please lean back and enjoy your flight. Be the astronaut you always wanted to be.


The videos, while obviously satirical, are scarily like the real thing to the extent that they are educational in terms of alerting viewers to themes and indicators

[DreadingItBadly]

I read the About page on the Bleeding Thunder website. I am actually very happy for them to have their own community who supports "genderqueer, the tomboy turned dyke turned demi-boy, the gender fucked, the too-girl-to-be-boy, too-boy-to-be-girl, the androgynes, enbies, and transsexuals; the can’t-quite-fit-in-any-box, gender-blessed and liminal ones" in their menstruation needs and believe that "Menstruation does not equal womanhood".

By all means, have at it. But in that case stay away from WOMEN's community in supporting their menstruation needs. Do not lump us together with you and do not invade our "unsupportive" spaces. Let's just all be supported separately, if the above feel excluded and unwelcome. Let's live and let live.

We can believe that only women menstruate, they can have penises on their sanpro.

[manatsu]

I can't see that post on their Instagram?

I don't really get the inclusion of the bepenised person, given that people with penises do not menstruate. Unless it's a neopenis, but wouldn't that make the owner a former menstruator?

[manatsu]

'Menstruation does not equal womanhood, and we are here to continue to push back on this dominant colonial script that says that it does, with love, compassion, and fierceness.' - bleeding thunder

They gotta stop with this calling everything colonial thing. I come from somewhere that was never really colonised and people have always associated menstruation with womenhood there, for better or worse. Wasn't the white man that made us do that. We could recognise sex ourselves, thanks.

[hoodathunkit]

My main concern is that women are being recruited into abusive cults via menstrually themed women's circles, red tent circles and the like and that vulnerable trans identified people (including minors) are also being recruited into abusive cults via the same process.

I am much more concerned about sexual and financial exploitation than I am about depictions of people with penises on sanitary towels.

[hoodathunkit]

This video is important as it describes MLM / pyramid selling elements of women's wisdom circles.

IME not all women's circles / red tent circles / menstrually themed circles are pyramid scams, however all of the ones I have researched have MLM elements within them, whether marketing essential oil MLMs (very common), life coaching MLMs (also v common) or whether, like the NXIVM cult, the circle itself is an MLM where new recruits are encouraged to create their own circle using a MLM model the MLM theme is just one of many concerning aspects of these businesses.

[manatsu]

Sorry @hoodathunkit, I wasn't ignoring your research, I just didn't have anything to add to it. It's all a bit beyond me. I didn't know about the existence of any of this stuff and how deep it all goes.

[hoodathunkit]

manatsu

No apologies are necessary :)

I appreciate that my posts are long, time consuming and disturbing.

Because there is only one of me and because people learn best when they discover things for themselves, even when I post a lot of material it is only the tip of the iceberg.

Due to the complex and disturbing nature of the cults I research I very much understand that not everyone has time to read and digest everything I post and that also it might be too much for sensitive readers to bear.

Take good care and read only what you feel comfortable to read at your own pace.

My post was not criticising your post or that of any other poster, just worried that the sheer amount of material I posted may have obscured my concerns